Door with built-in deodorizer



Nov. 20; 1956 J. L. BUCKLEY 2,771,021

DOOR WITH BUILT-IN DEODORIZER Filed Oct. 16, 1955 'IIIIIII;

United States Patent DOOR WITH BUILT-IN DEODORIZER James L. Buckley, Scarsdale, N. Y., assignor to Georgia- Pacific Plywood Company, Olympia, Wash, a corporation of Georgia Application October 16, 1953, Serial No. 386,538

Claims. (Cl. 9887) This invention relates to door construction and more particularly to a combined door and odor modifier for use in dwellings and elsewhere.

The dissipation of unpleasant odors and prevention of the spread of such odors to living or working areas, particularly in the home, presents numerous problems. For example, the use of air exhaust systems requires a relatively costly installation which cannot be satisfactorily utilized during the heating season because of the excessive heat loss. While manually operated deodorizers may be satisfactory when used, they are usually not utilized until obnoxious odors have made their presence noticeable. Fixed containers of deodorizing material are unsatisfactory for various reasons and in particular because they are unsightly and are dependent upon the relatively slow diffusion of the air or of the deodorising material in the air.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a door construction having a built-in deodorizer unit.

Another object is the provision of such a door with a built-in deodorizer which is not only effective in modifying the odor in a room or enclosure but also substantially reduces diffusion of the odor from that room past the door to areas on the other side thereof.

A further object is the provision of such a door having a built-in readily replenishable deodorizer which, for practical purposes, is out of sight and which, in addition to the relatively slower diffusion of gases or other materials utilizes air which is positively driven.

Other objects as well as advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a front elevational view, partially broken away for convenience, of a door constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view thereof on reduced scale with the door hung in its operating position.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, door comprises the usual risers 11, 12, top and bottom cross-rails 13, 14, respectively, and intermediate cross-rails 15, 16. In the present instance the top and center portions of door 1!) are of conventional construction; having panels 17, 18 supported between the risers and cross-rails and. secured by moldings. While various parts of door 10 are shown as of wooden construction, it is to be understood that other suitable materials may be utilized, as is well known.

For convenience and ready reference herein, the surface of door 10, presented toward the room or enclosure in which obnoxious odors originate, is designated the inside surface. The opposite surface of door 10 is therefore designated as the outside surface. Panel 20, as indicated in Fig. 2, is the bottom panel in the present instance and is of composite construction. The surface Patented Nov. 20, 1956 presented toward the outside is that of a panel member 21 which preferably presents an outside surface similar in appearance to that of the other panels primarily for decorative reasons. The inside surface of panel 20 is formed by a foraminous member 22. While member 22 is shown as being made of common woven screening, other foraminous materials such as perforated or louvered sheets of metal, plastic or the like, may be utilized. Furthermore, foraminous member 22 may be constructed of the same kind of material from which the solid panels are made. As most clearly shown in Fig. 2, panel member 21 and foraminous member 22 are spaced apart. In the space between members 21 and 22 and in juxtaposition therewith is deodorizer or odor modifying member 23. Members 21, 22 and 23 are substantially coextensive in the present instance, and are supported between risers 11, 12 and cross-rails 14, 16, while they are secured in place by moldings 19 and bottom molding 24.

A plurality of channels 25 are formed in bottom crossrail 14 and open upwardly. Channels 25 open inwardly of panel member 21 and communicate with the space normally occupied by member 23. Adjacent the lower edge of cross-rail 14, channels 25 communicate with the area on the outside of door 10 through blind openings 26. It will be noted that lower molding 24 seats on the upwardly presented surface of cross-rail 14 in which the openings of channels 25 are located. Channels 27 formed in lower molding 24 each communicates with one of the channels 25 on one side and member 23 on the other.

In the specific embodiment shown, odor modifying member 23 is a highly absorbent felt pad which is also highly-porous. In this form member 23 is readily impregnated with odor modifying material in a liquid state; the vapor pressure of the material insuring its continuous evaporation from member 23. In operation, with member 23 mounted as indicated and with door 10 closed, dissemination of the odor modifying material is to a large extent dependent upon the convection currents in the atmosphere of the area on the inside of the door. However, because of the large expanse of member 23 unmasked by member 22 over which the air flows, a highly rapid diffusion of the odor modifying material is effected. With the construction shown most clearly in Fig. 2, additional advantages are obtained. As is well known, the air pressure on opposite sides of a door are not constant and often there is a sudden sharp difference in the pressure on either side. This causes a rapid flow of air usually between the door bottom and the sill. In the present instance such ditferences of air pressure are taken advantage of by providing air passageways from the outside surface to the inside surface. Thus, assuming a sudden increase in pressure on the outside of door 10, air is forced into openings 26 along channels 25 and 27 across the surface of member 23 and thence to the area on the inside of door 10. This forced passage of air results in an increased discharge or evaporation of the odor modifying material into the air. On the other hand, should the high pressure side be the inside of door 10, then the passage of air is reversed and any obnoxious odors in the air will be modified before escaping into the area on the outside of is hung. Furthermore, air on the inside of door 10 is forced to flow across the surface of member 23 into channels 27, 25 and out through opening 26. The air thus forcibly discharged through openings 26 carries odor. modifying material picked up or evaporated from member 23. Probably because of the turbulence created by the motion of door 10, this air on leaving openings 26 is rapidly disseminated and is available to modify whatever odors remain in the air which reaches the outside by other paths. When door is closed, the action is reversed and now outside air is forced through the channels and across member 23 where odor modifying material is picked up and then discharged into the inside area.

There are various types of known deodorizers. The foregoing example is described as used with an initially liquid material and a saturated highly porous member, as for example felt made of wool, cellulose or the like is described as the odor modifying member. Other materials of which member 23 may be composed include clay, plaster of paris, compressed sawdust. Such liquid deodorizing material is usually of the type commonly termed reodorizing agents since a stronger pleasant odor is usually used to overcome the obnoxious odor. Of course, it is necessary to select the agent in accordance with the nature of the obnoxious odors to be overcome.

Odors may be modified by utilizing entirely different principals. For example, unpleasant gases or vapors may be adsorbed by highly porous materials. Thus, member 23 may be constructed from activated carbon, activated alumina, silica gel or other substances having the desired properties. In the event member 23 is con structed of this type of material, the construction and operation of door 10 is essentially as described herein"- above except that, unless a vaporizable material is also used, there will not be any evaporation of odor modifying material; the odors being removed from the inside air in its passage over and through member 23.

Another type of deodorizer involves the use of sub.- stances such as a light concentration of formaldehyde which reduces the sensitiveness of the olfactory nerve. Such substances may also be used if desired.

Certain of the odor modifying materials discussed above may require replenishment from time to time. In that event the material may be applied to the member 23 through the openings formed in the foraminous member 22 in any convenient manner as by the use of a spray or a spout from which controlled amounts of the material may be dispensed. Conveniently, the moldings retaining member 23 may be mounted so as to be readily removed thereby permitting removal of member 23 should replacement or replenishment thereof in that manner be desired.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that this invention provides a highly useful and etficient arrangement for dealing with obnoxious odors and is particularly well suited for use in dwellings. The invention has been described in detail in connection with a preferred embodiment thereof. However, it is to be understood that such modifications and variations thereof as are within the scope of the claims are considered to be within the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A door unit having means for use in modifying odors between an area having unpleasant odors and another area, comprising spaced apart risers with spaced apart cross-rail members interconnecting said risers, a panel member having a substantially imperforate surface and secured between said risers and cross-rail members with said imperforate surface adapted to be presented toward said another area, a foraminous member supported between said risers and cross-rail members on the side of said panel member adapted to be presented toward said first mentioned area with said foraminous member spaced apart from and extending along said panel member, means including a highly porous member for modifying the odor of said first mentioned area in the space formed between said panel member and said foraminous member, and one of said cross-rail members having channels formed therein for directing air from said another area into said porous member and in a direction substantially parallel to the surface of said porous member.

2. A door unit having means for use in modifying odors between an area having unpleasant odors and another area, comprising spaced apart risers with spaced apart cross-rail members interconnecting said risers, a panel member having a substantially imperforate surface and secured between said risers and cross-rail members with said imperforate surface adapted to be presented toward said another area, a foraminous member supported between said risers and cross-rail members on the side of said panel member adapted to be presented toward said first mentioned area with said foraminous member spaced apart from and extending along said panel member, means including a highly porous member for modifying the odor of said first mentioned area in the space between said panel member and said foraminous memher, one of said cross-rail members having an edge in abutting relation with an edge of said porous member, said one cross-rail member having a plurality of channels formed therein, said channels opening at one end thereof on said porous member and communicating at the other end thereof with said another area.

3. A door unit having means for use in modifying odors between an area having unpleasant odors and another area, comprising spaced apart risers with spaced apart cross-rail members interconnecting said risers, a panel member having a substantially imperforated surface and secured between said risers and cross-rail members with said imperforate surface adapted to be presented toward said another area, a foraminous member supported between said risers and cross-rail members on the side of said panel member adapted to be presented toward said first mentioned area with said foraminous member spaced apart from and extending along said panel member, means including a highly porous member for modifying the odor of said first mentioned area in the space between said panel member and said foraminous member, one of said cross-rail members having an edge in abutting relation with an edge of said porous member, said one cross-rail member having a plurality of channels formed therein, said channels forming communicating passageways between the atmosphere of said another area and said edge of said porous member with the portions of said channels adjacent to said porous member extending substantially parallel with said porous and foraminous members for directing air into and over the surface of said porous member.

4. A door unit having means for use in modifying odors between an area having unpleasant odors and another area, comprising a panel member having a substantially imperforate surface adapted to be presented toward said another area, a foraminous member supported in close spaced relation with said panel member and on the side thereof away from said imperforate surface and adapted to be presented toward said first mentioned area, means including a porous member for modifying the odor of said first mentioned area in the space between said panel member and said foraminous member, and means adjacent to said panel member and having channels formed therein, said channels establishing communication between the atmosphere on the side of said panel member adapted to be presented toward said another area and said porous member.

5. A door unit having means for use in modifying odors between an area having unpleasant odors and another area, comprising a panel member having a substantially imperforate surface adapted to be presented toward said another area, a foraminous member supported in close spaced relation with said panel member and on the side thereof away from said imperforate surface and on the side of said panel adapted to be presented toward adapted to be presented toward said first mentioned area, said another area and said porous member.

means including a porous member for modifying the odor of said first mentioned area in the space between said References Cited in the file of this patent panel member and said foraminous member, and means 5 adjacent to said panel member and having channels UNITED STATES PATENTS formed therein for directing air from said another area 1,482,626 Whiting Feb. 5, 1924 into said porous member and in a direction substantially 2,206,705 Newman July 2, 1940 parallel to the surface of said porous member, said chan- 2,303,073 Brown Nov. 24, 1942 v nels establishing communication between the atmosphere 10 

